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Home , 2013 UCI World Tour, Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, Chris Froome, Erik Zabel, Grand Prix des Nations

______Froome's performances since the Vuelta 11 are so good that he should be considered a champion. Grand Tour champions who didn't benefit from game-changing drugs (GTC) usually display a high potential as junior athletes.

Supporting evidence: Coppi first won the Giro at 20 Anquetil first won the at 19 Merckx won the world's road at 19 Hinault won the Giro and Tour at 24 LeMond showed amazing talent at just 15 Fignon led the Giro and won the Critèrium national at 22 No display of early talent H: Froome rode the 2013 TdF 'clean' ~H: Froome didn't ride the 2013 TdF 'clean'

Reason: Because p(D|H) = Objection: But that's because he grew up in Evaluation Froome didn't display a high Froome's first major wins a country with no activity per say and p(D|~H) = potential as a junior athlete. were at age 26, which is he took up road racing late. quite late in cycling. Cognitive dissonance (additional condition): Being clean, Froome performs at a Grand Tour champion level despite not having shown great potential as a junior athlete. Requirement: it is possible to be a clean Grand Tour champion without showing high potential as a junior athlete. Armstrong's performance in the TdF: DNF, DNF, 36, DNF, DNS [cancer], DNS [cancer], 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 23 Sudden metamorphoses from 'middle of the pack' to 'champion' are Team Sky's director Brailsford: "We also look at the history of the guy, his usually seen in dopers. progression over a number of years. All the best bike riders, the clean ones, you see steady progression; you can graph it. The ones whose performance of up in a spike usually test positive. There are no secrets. It's basic stuff; intelligence gathering." (quoted in Moore's Sky's Limit)

But… the races he entered in Rebuttal: However, before 2010 he didn't before 2010 didn't suit him, for the have bilharzia and still showed less promise most part. Froome's career than comparable GC contenders. In his first years as a pro (2007-2011), his performance placed him as a But his lack of development in 2010 and 2011 (before Source: Libertine Seguros (post #165 in Source needed–see post #5 in link attached 'middle of the pack', but at the Vuelta 2011 he metamorphosed into one of the Vuelta) is because he suffered from Bilharzia. discussion thread, as of 8/12/13) the best riders in the pro peloton. Brailsford: "He showed some fantastic numbers in Rebuttal: However, some claim that "Froome was 83rd at his grand tour debut at the 2008 Vuelta a España, 34th training and the question for us was why did he not Bilharzia was never brought up in relation at the 2009 Giro, and was disqualified from the 2010 Giro... perform like he did in the Vuelta before. But he got this to Froome until he started winning at the That’s in sharp contrast to Froome’s breakout ride during the 2011 Vuelta, disease and he got on top of that his Vuelta '11, suggesting that it could have when he lost the race by just 19 seconds to Juanjo Cobo." performances improved," been made up by the team to explain his sudden transformation.

Frankchickens (post #164 in discussion Performance thread, as of 8/12/13): metamorphosis Libertine Seguros (post #159 in discussion thread, as of 8/12/13): "81st (after Cognitive dissonance (additional Froome suddenly meta- DQs) is still not all that good considering people were touting his condition): Although clean, morphosed from 'middle performances in that race as evidence why his transformation at last year's Froome has experienced a of the pack' to 'champion'. Vuelta was to be expected. The much-vaunted Alpe d'Huez stage? He fell out discontinuity in his performance of the heads of state group at round about the same as Johan van that is characteristic of dopers. Summeren. Requirement: it is possible to be a clean Grand Tour champion For reference, here are a few other riders of similar ages and their first metamorphosing suddenly from performances in GTs. 'middle of the pack'. : 7th, 2010 Giro d'Italia (I'm aware of the circumstances) : 19th, 2007 Giro d'Italia : 21st, 2009 Tour de : 21st, 2007 Vuelta a España Janez Brajkovic: 30th, 2006 Vuelta a España Rigoberto Urán: 55th, 2009 Jürgen van den Broeck: 74th, 2007 Giro d'Italia (he was 7th in 2008 though).

Most of these guys have shown a pretty steady upward curve (or in Kreuziger's case something of a plateau). Froome went from being noticeably worse to noticeably better in one fell swoop."

[Placeholder] Timing of metamorphosis

[Placeholder] developing as a TT and climber while losing weight

Being at the top of the sport for months—including winning a Grand Tour— hasn't been achieved by a clean rider in recent years.

Source needed He has been performing at the top of the sport Results for several consecutive months.

Froome's 2013 results: "Tour of ; stage five ; overall Tour of Oman; points classification Because the field is clean(er) In top shape for Froome has been at the Tirreno-Adriatico; stage four now, so it is possible for a months top of the sport for International; stage three talented rider to beat his rivals months—including Criterium International; overall consistently. winning a Grand Tour. ; prologue ITT Requirement: it is possible for a clean Tour de Romandie; overall Source needed rider to be at the top of sport for Criterium du Dauphine; stage five several months at a time. Criterium du Dauphine; overall Tour de France; stage eight Tour de France; stage 15 Tour de France; stage 17 (ITT) Tour de France; overall"

Since the introduction of EPO, the winners of the Tour that were 'head and shoulders' above their rivals have all been convicted (or confessed of) doping.

Supporting evidence needed

The rider Because, in the 2013 Tour: Overall, he finished clear of second by 4min20 Winning 'head and At Ax 3 Domaines, he put 1min25 between him and Valverde and 1m51 with Contador shoulders' above of his rivals Froome was 'head an On the Ventoux, "Froome made Contador look like an espoir." (He took 1m40 over shoulders' above his Contador in that stage.) rivals in the 2013 TdF. "In the three decisive moments of this Tour — two mountaintop finishes and one Requirement: it is possible for a — he’s been in a league of his own." clean rider to win the Tour 'head "he is cutting through this peloton like a hot knife through butter." and shoulders' above his rivals. "you have to admit that Chris was just much stronger than anyone else in the race." (Philippe Mauduit)

Since the introduction of EPO, the winners of the Tour that have been amongst the best at both climbing and TTing were dopers. Froome's 2013 season Supporting evidence needed Being good at climbing and TTing In 2013, Froome was among the best at both Evidence needed climbing and TTing. Requirement: It is possible for a clean rider to be among the best in the pro peloton at both climbing and TTing.

No clean rider has been able to challenge the fastest ascents of dopers.

Supporting evidence needed Dominating at the Tour He has the second fastest ascent of (last 15.65 km [from St. But… A. Coggan: You can't use Esteve], 8.74 %, 1368 m) performance alone as an indicator of doping because we don't know -1. ______USA | 48:33 | 2002 the limit of (clean) human -2. ______GBR | 48:35 | 2013 physiology. -3. ______LUX | 48.57 | 2009 -4. _____ ESP | 48:57 | 2009 Source needed -5. Lance Armstrong ______USA | 49:00 | 2009 However, once above the tree -6. ______ITA | 49:01 | 2000 line—where it matters most—he -7. Lance Armstrong ______USA | 49:01 | 2000 But, on the Ventoux, he benefited didn't benefit from a consistent -8. Frank Schleck ______LUX | 49:02 | 2009 from favorable winds. favorable winds. -9. ______COL | 49:04 | 2013 10. Roman Kreuziger ______CZE | 49:05 | 2009 Source needed However, if he benefited from favorable winds, why others in the Source needed race today weren't closer to him? Climbing as fast as dopers Some of Froome's ascents were among the fastest He has the third fastest ascent at Ax 3 Domaines ascents of dopers. Requirement: It is possible for a "Aside for Froome's time, every single performance in the clean rider to ascend as fast as the top 10 has come from a rider during cycling's known doping fastest ascents of dopers. era."

1. Laiseka 22:57, 2001 2. Armstrong 22:59, 2001 But, at Ax 3 Domaines, the ascent was the first 3. Froome 23:14, 2013 mountain stage of the Tour, so his speed is 4. Ulrich 23:17, 2003 explained by his freshness. 5. Zubeldia 23:19, 2003 6. Ulrich 23:22, 2001 7. Armstrong 23:24, 2003 8. Vinokourov 23:34, 2003 9. Basso 23:36, 2003 10. Armstrong 23:40, 2005 22. Porte 24:05, 2013 34. Valverde 24:22, 2013

Being a clean top rider requires having strong ethical values. Because he was disqualified However, we can't know for sure his But he claims that by then he had from the 2010 Giro for intentions; the only unquestioned fact of the already abandoned the race. hanging to a motorcycle. incident is his expulsion. Froome's breaking rules in the past suggest that Breaking rules Because he broke the feeding-in-a-no- he has questionable feeding-zone rule and justified it: "I But this is a minor rule with a ethical values. However, doping in cycling isn't equivalent asked Richie to get me an energy gel known penalty; running a red light to being an axe murderer. from the team car… technically it was doesn't make you an axe murderer. Richie that got the gel."

A partial cause of doping suspicion is a rider isn't critical of doping. Froome affirmed his alignment with Bike Pure, a non-profit aiming at promoting clean cycling. Behavior But some consider that Bike Pure isn't a trustworthy third party. But some consider that Bike Pure is Because Froome used to subscribe to Bike Pure but didn't reaffirm his only after raising their profile. alignment with the organization after December 2012. Michelle Cound, responded this Commitment Supporting evidence: Bike Pure: "Many will know that Froome aligned with morning: “I responded but you our organization some years ago whilst riding for Team Barloworld. We demanded that he reply two weeks to non-doping Froome didn't reaffirm his have asked for clarification from Chris on a number of occasions in the last before the Tour.. basically promote you alignment with the non-profit 18 months via email and direct message on Twitter if he still wished to or else? Ridiculous…” since December 2012. form part of our organization. As a result of not receiving such clarification But some consider that Bike Pure's from Chris or Team Sky in recent days we have made the difficult decision timing is inappropriate. to remove his bio page from our website. This in no way insinuates that Froome is a suspicious rider but we feel that if riders do not support our However Bike Pure claims that they "Michelle Cound [Froome's girlfriend], organization then there is no reason for us to promote them as such.." have sent him multiple requests responded this morning: “I responded over various months, therefore this but you demanded that he reply two isn't something new. weeks before the Tour.. basically promote you or else? Ridiculous…”"

To be consistent with our body of evidence, the 'clean' hypothesis requires that: Because "he has a V02max close to the limits of known 1. Froome is one of the best cyclists in his generation: physiological science." – he has top natural talent, – he has a top training program (Sky has discovered enough "marginal gains" that all the other teams don't know about to amount to Froome has natural abilities Source: Grappe (see attached link) a sizable advantage) Physiology – he does the necessary work to follow the program near human limits Because "he must have excellent ability to recover between – he is able, 'clean', to stay in top shape for months Because he has better natural abilities stages." 2. Furthermore, Froome's display of dopers-only characteristics isn't because of doping: Source: Grappe: (see attached link) Because he has better equipment – doping isn't why he experienced a sudden breakthrough in performance, Brailsford has led Team GB to outstanding results recently, – doping isn't why he is the only current rider able to climb as fast as convinced/confessed dopers Because he has better teammates none of which have been linked to cheating. – doping isn't why he is able to be 'head and shoulders' above his rivals in a Grand Tour, Synthesis: This hypothe- – doping isn't why he has been able to develop as one of the best at both climbing and TTing, sis looks a lot more Decision: Because he has a better training regimen Supporting evidence: Sky won the 2012 and 2013 Tour de – his lack of improving as a young pro rider isn't because of his lack of talent, complicated than the ✘ France 'doped' one. Furthermore, any unlikeliness of his to clean Grand Tour champions is explainable: Because he has a better nutrition History Sky rider Wiggins won the 2012 Olympic gold medal Because he has a better hygiene of ... – his lack of displaying potential as a junior athlete isn't because of his lack of talent, and Because his superior management Because he has better recovery life than his competitors Teams GB Cycling and Sky share a lot of personnel and practices. 3. Furthermore, any opaqueness on Froome's (or his team's) behalf isn't motivated by hiding doping: of the factors that are within the Context surrounding Because he has better social support Synthesis: the "so – hiding doping isn't why he stopped providing data without an explanation when it would be instrumental to help establish his legal rules of the sport gave him Froome, Sky and the Therefore it is reasonable to assume that if doping credibility, Hypothesis 1: Christopher Froome won 2013 TdF exist in one structure, it should exist in the other. what?", i.e., what is the the needed edge full set of requirements – hiding doping isn't why Sky didn't make good on its original transparency pledge, the 2013 TdF without cheating for this hypothesis to – hiding doping isn't why Sky isn't submitting data to trusted, qualified third parties, Requires that Sky discovers – hiding doping isn't why Sky mysteriously rescinded their earlier all-access invitation to Kimmage to the entire 2012 Tour, enough small differences (the comply with the body Because he had better luck during Brailsford attributes the performance of the team to the margin gains) that all the other of evidence? aggregation of marginal gains. 4. Furthermore, developing a doping program isn't why Sky hired Leinders (a doctor linked to doping programs in other teams) Because he had better race the competition teams don't know about to execution during the competition amount to a sizable advantage. To be consistent with our body of evidence, the 'doped' hypothesis requires that: Because he had better race tactics 1. Froome is a good candidate for doping:

Did Christopher during the competition But not all riders at Sky have improved as much as – he has reasonable talent, Claimed innovations Froome (e.g. Uran). – he responds very well to doping, Froome cheat to win – Froome has very good drugs Source needed the 2013 Tour de Sky claim they have revolutionary training techniques. 2. Furthermore, Froome/Sky have hidden the doping well: But ex-Sky riders now riding for other teams don't – they have hidden the doping from , a recognized anti-doping crusader whom they invited to the 2013 TdF, France? seem to perform as well as during their Sky days (e.g., – they have hidden the doping from Fred Grappe, to whom they provided some power files, at Saxo in 2013). – they have hidden the doping from the bio-passport program, Version of 2013-08-09 – they have hidden the doping from other anti-doping programs, Source needed 3. Furthermore, Froome/Sky are confident they can continue to hide the doping well: Brailsford originally promised full transparency. – they can hide the doping from WADA despite inviting them to "have everything we've got", Doesn't add any require- Supporting evidence: Brailsford: "All I can say is... if there is any doubt or ments under this hypothesis. 4. Furthermore, Froome/Sky have silenced any leaks: suspicion [of doping] on our team, I'll expose it. And if I get to the point – they have ensured that no former or current Sky people have accused them, where I think it can't be done, I'm walking away.” – they have ensured that no other people associated with the doping (doctors, providers) have accused them No past or current Sky team member (rider, staff, or anyone else) has come out to accuse Sky of doping

Sky has embedded journalist David Walsh.

Supporting evidence: "Sky has attempted to redress the negative press that has overshadowed Doesn't add any require- their Tour de France success by granting journalist David Walsh to an ments under this hypothesis. ‘access all areas’ pass for the 2013 season. Walsh wrote important books about doping at US Postal before penning Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong last year."

Evidence: Walsh has stated that there is no evidence that Sky is cheating

Supporting evidence: "I've spent about three weeks with Team Sky this year so far, and everything I've seen about them indicates that they're clean. It's not proof that they're clean, and I'm not saying that they're clean, but nobody has come up with any evidence that they're doping, nothing."

Fréderic Grappe had cleared Armstrong of doping in 2001; we now When prompted to, know that he was doping. Requires that Sky—despite Sky released data, an earlier pledge for total but only to one Supporting evidence: "La Francaise des Jeux trainer, Frédéric Grappe, has transparency—releases the expert who hap- come out in support of Lance Armstrong, after doping accusations have data only to one expert, pened to have made been leveled at him and the U.S. Postal team. In an in depth interview who happens to have a mistake in Arm- with L’Equipe, Grappe said that Armstrong’s results have come through misdiagnosed a similar case. strong's case hard work and not hard drugs, despite the climate of suspicion that still surrounds cycling (especially in France) at the moment."

Reason: Brailsford claims that releasing data would be counterproductive because only a few people can analyze it. Objection: But Sky could Requires that Sky have released the data to Supporting evidence: "There is so much pseudo science out there right now. has a reason not to third parties who are both If you release the data, there are very few people who can properly interpret submit data to qualified and trustworthy and understand that data. All you’re going to do is create is a lot of noise for trusted, qualified (e.g., Michael Ashenden), people who are pseudo scientists. You can even write magazines about it. third parties. yet they didn't do it. They’re so wide of the mark in what they’re doing, it’s quite scary. You can do anything with stats. You can use that with a cynical view." When prompted to, Sky has provided data, but the data is insufficient to conclude on Sky released data, but Froome's 'cleanness'. only a small sample Supporting evidence: Grappe: "Ai-je une seule fois évoqué le fait qu'il n'est pas dopé ? Les données analysées ne permettent pas de le dire. Je Transparency dois rester très honnête..." Sky has provided neither Froome's VO2max data nor his 2010 data, even though it is reasonable to assume that they have it. Requires that Froome is part of a team that—despite an earlier pledge for total Supporting evidence: "Every turn of the pedal a Team Sky rider makes is transparency—has data supporting that he recorded by a power meter, analysed using performance software and is 'clean' but happen not to provide it. then benchmarked against Kerrison's "power curve" models." Sky has offered to release their data to WADA, but WADA refused. Doesn't add any require- Supporting evidence: "WADA has told Team Sky to send their evidence to ments under this hypothesis. other organizations after the team offered to provide them with details on Chris Froome's impressive TdF performances."

His team Brailsford originally invited Kimmage to be embedded in the team for the 2010 Tour before rescinding the invitation.

Supporting evidence: "Kimmage said that he arranged to do the same with Requires that Sky—despite Sky in 2010 but, on the eve of the race, blocked it from an earlier invitation— happening as agreed. decides that Kimmage shouldn't have an all-access “It was Wiggins specifically who rejected it. I went over to Manchester, I sat invitation with them for the down with Brailsford and everything was sorted… A day before I was to go entire 2012 Tour. to , Fran Millar called me and said there was a problem… Brailsford said, ‘basically, look, Wiggins is not happy. Is it okay if you pick up the team in eight days time?” I said ‘no, it is from the start or nothing,’ and that is where it was left." Some of Sky's statements about bilharzia aren't true.

The treatment is a one-day treatment: "The medication used to treat schistosomiasis is called praziquantel […] A single dose of praziquantel is usually required […] Steroid medication (corticosteroids) can also be used to relieve the symptoms of acute schistosomiasis […] A further Rider - race history, 'illness', /altitude, commonwealths, last year, this year stool sample may be taken after four to six weeks to check whether Sky - BC, sport science, marginal gains, lottery funding/sky funding, team, brailsford/ there are still any eggs in your stools. If eggs are present, a further dose Kerrigan, landers, Yates of praziquantel may be given." (source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/ Drugs - dnot know enough schistosomiasis/Pages/Treatment.aspx) Competitor - contador coming back form drug ban, Quintana new, other Movistar guy mechanical, Dutch guys not handling it, time trial situation etc. Brailsford provided incorrect information about bilharzia: "“It’s not something that just disappears. It’s a parasite. It lays eggs. They might be dormant, then the eggs hatch, then they lay more eggs,” Brailsford said. “You have to stay on top of it, be vigilant, that’s why he keeps having treatments so it’s completely eradicated over time.”" There are precedents of teams embedding journalists in an effort to demonstrate their 'cleanness'. At least some of those resulted in the journalists reporting incorrectly that no doping occurred.

Supporting evidence: has admitted to doping in 2003, which was not reported in a documentary "Hell on Wheels" about his team that year.

Team Sky originally had other team members who had been connected with doping, but they let them go.

Supporting evidence: "The team’s staff were all asked to sign an anti-doping declarations as well as sit down for one-on-one discussions with Steve Peters. In the wake of the discussions, was forced to leave the team and within days he had admitted to talking performance enhancing drugs during the early stages of his career." "Steven De Jongh, who was also on Rabobank’s 2003 Vuelta team, was also dismissed from his role as a DS." "Officially these were the only casualties of Sky’s cull. retired Team Sky's public stance is from the team due to health reasons, but although the team was strongly against doping adamant in stressing that it was not part of their anti-doping stance, Yates's sudden departure drew much attention due to the fact that he was a teammate of Lance Armstrong at Motorola." Team Sky required all of their personnel to sign a contract stating that Doesn't add any require- they hadn't doped in the past. ments under this hypothesis. Froome/Sky deny doping.

Supporting evidence: "Froome and his Sky chaperons swear they are clean. When asked after taking the jersey last week if history would require some rewriting, Froome replied simply, “Believe me.”" Sky, despite their anti- doping stance, is one of eight WorldTour teams that is not a member of MPCC (Mouvement pour un cyclisme Doping crédible)—an organization whose members agree on basic rules to defend the idea of clean cycling.

Members of MPCC subject to additional tests. Froome and other Sky riders have never tested positive to doping.

Supporting evidence: "Froome, pour sa part, est déjà passé 19 fois au révélateur depuis le départ en Corse. Treize contrôles urinaires et/ou sanguins, six dans le cadre du passeport biologique, véritable mouchard permettant de détecter les variations des profils hématologiques ou endocrinologiques et donc de révéler une éventuelle prise de produits dopants. Résultats de ce suivi selon Fred Grappe, docteur ès sciences et entraîneur de FDJ.fr, dans L’Equipe : rien de suspect concernant le leader de la Sky." Team Sky originally hired Geert Leinders, a Belgian doctor with previous ties to doping.

Supporting evidence: The Telegraph (March 8, 2013): "Michael Rasmussen accuses Dr Geert Requires that, out of all Leinders of being at the heart of Rabobank doping culture" doctors, Sky happens to "Leinders was hired by the British squad at the start of 2011 but his choose one with a previ- contract was not renewed at the end of 2012 after his name was raised ous connection to doping. in suspicion of past doping involvement. Sky denied the non-renewal was due to its zero-tolerance policy on doping and stated that they were unaware of his past despite a screening interview carried out by their resident psychologist Steve Peters."

Most of the teams in the pro peloton are known to be deceiving. Requires that Sky is more Supporting evidence: honest than, at least, some "One must accept that a sport that was rife with doping, cheating, bribing, of their rival teams. cutting corners, criminals, junkies, pushers, thugs, and other nefarious characters suddenly and abruptly righted itself." His competition While many external observers claim that the pro peloton is cleaner than before, few (if any) claim that it is entirely clean. Requires that Froome is more honest than his rivals. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that some riders are still doping. Requires that Froome is able to beat doped com- Therefore it is reasonable to assume that some of the top riders are still petitors (by a large margin). doping.

Some current and former riders have come in support of Froome or haven't accused him doping.

Millar: "Team Sky rode a perfect race, and for the record, I believe they are clean and deserve respect and admiration for it." (source: http:// www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/10165609/ Tour-de-France-2013-David-Millar-defends-Chris-Froome-and-Team-Sky- over-doping-questions.html)

LeMond: "I want to believe in what I'm seeing. There can be spectacular performances without doping." (source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/ news/lemond-there-can-be-spectacular-performances-without-doping)

Vaughters: "With time, all truth is revealed. But like I said, my hope and belief — put it to you this way. If you put a gun to my head and say, is Chris Froome clean or is Chris Froome not? You get it wrong and the bullet goes off, right? My expectation would be that I would hear “click” and the bullet wouldn’t go off. But would I be f—ing wincing beforehand? Yes." (source: http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/ news/vaughters-qa-time-will-tell-if-performances-are-clean_295608)

Contador: "There is no reason to doubt Froome's performance. He is a great professional. He is at a very high level and has been all year. His performances are because he works hard. Sometimes you are stronger, other times you are less strong, but I believe in his performances. And in any case, there are the controls." (source: http:// www.cyclingnews.com/news/there-is-no-reason-to-doubt-froomes- performances-says-contador)

Hamilton: "There’s no reason to believe they’re doping. I think we have His environment a true Tour de France winner." (source: http://cycling-passion.com/ 2013/08/07/tyler-hamilton-chris-froome-true-winner-tour-de-france/) New drugs are rumored to have entered the pro peloton

Evidence: AICAR and GW1516 are rumored to be in use

Evidence: GAS-6 is rumored to be in use (http://www.guillaumepre- bois.com/blogs/mon-blog/8322149-gas6-la-nouvelle-molecule-des- dopes) Froome's metamorphosis occurred while the was in place, a tool specifically designed to catch unreasonable changes in riders. Because no suspicious data have been reported prior to the 2013 Tour.

Data needed Because no suspicious data have been reported during the 2013 Tour. Biological passport No suspicious data have been reported. "Froome, pour sa part, est déjà passé 19 fois au révélateur depuis le Requirement: It is possible for a départ en Corse. Treize contrôles urinaires et/ou sanguins, six dans doped rider to be doping under le cadre du passeport biologique, véritable mouchard permettant de the biological passport program. détecter les variations des profils hématologiques ou endocrinologiques et donc de révéler une éventuelle prise de produits dopants. Résultats de ce suivi selon Fred Grappe, docteur ès sciences et entraîneur de FDJ.fr, dans L’Equipe : rien de suspect concernant le leader de la Sky."

Additional assumption: Sky/Brailsford knows about the doping

Because he took some illegal Hypothesis 2: Christopher Additional assumption: When declaring Sky 'clean', Walsh is truthful performance-enhancement drugs Froome won the 2013 TdF taking some performance-enhancing Additional assumption: Froome has been doping from 2011 on Because cheating gave him the drugs (i.e., doping) needed edge Additional assumption: Froome/Sky/Brailsford doesn't want to be caught doping

Because he cheated in another way Synthesis: No evidence Hypothesis 3: Christopher Froome won suggests that this is Decision: the 2013 TdF cheating in a different happening, therefore we discard it as too ✘ way than doping unlikely for now